Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems
UW-PARKSIDE 2019-21 CATALOG
Molinaro 248 • 262-595-2314
College:
Business, Economics, and Computing
Degree offered:
Master of Science
Goals of the Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems Program
The master of science in computer and information systems (MSCIS) program is intended to increase the supply of high quality information technology professionals and to contribute to the professional advancement of employees in the information technology workforce. The degree program draws on the strengths of UW-Parkside’s faculty and computing resources in both computer science (CS) and management information systems (MIS). Graduates of this program will have up-to-date information technology knowledge and skills, and practical experience with information systems development and deployment.
All MSCIS graduates will be able to:
- Participate in the justification, specification, design, development, and implementation of modern enterprise systems for an organization.
- Work with computing technology through:
- Design, develop, test, and implement software using industry leading practices and/or
- Develop information technology technical solutions
- Lead and manage IT projects using project management principles.
- Design and implement organizational and IT control mechanisms that lead to a reliable and secure information system.
- Use research methods to investigate a problem from a technical, management and ethical perspective.
- Communicate Information Systems principles and practices effectively and professionally within an enterprise.
Admission Requirements and Application Procedure
To qualify for admission into the MSCIS program, an applicant must apply to the MSCIS Program online as indicated below, and submit all required documents to the Admissions Office.
Admissions Office
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
900 Wood Road
P.O. Box 2000
Kenosha WI 53141-2000
Admission requirements include those listed below.
- A completed application form, along with the application fee payment. The application form can be found online at: https://apply.wisconsin.edu/
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work, sent directly to the Admissions Office. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA (UGPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.
- GRE or GMAT scores sent directly to the Computer Science department office. The GMAT score + 200 times the UGPA must exceed 1000, or the sum of the GRE quantitative and verbal scores must exceed 300 and the analytical writing score must be 4 or higher. The GRE or GMAT can be waived for students with UGPA above 3.2, with excellent recommendations.
- A resume that details the applicant’s education and work history.
- Two letters of recommendation sent directly to the Admissions Office
- International students must also submit a sponsorship form and a transcript evaluation. International students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of English proficiency, normally by presenting a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or IELTS exam.
- Additional materials in support of the applicant, as appropriate.
Contact the computer science department office for information about application deadlines.
At the discretion of the MSCIS program faculty, students with minor deficiencies in items 2 and 3 may be conditionally accepted into the program if they can otherwise demonstrate significant potential for success.
Requirements for the Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems (30 credits)
To achieve the above goals, MSCIS students must complete prerequisite requirements (up to 20 credits that can be waived with undergraduate equivalent courses) and a minimum of 30 credits distributed as follows: 15 credits of required course work, 3 additional credits in software development, 9 credit hours in a knowledge area and an elective.
Knowledge areas include software development, information technology management, cyber-security, and data science. A thesis option is available for those students who would like to eventually pursue a doctoral degree. The requirements and the classes in each knowledge area are specified below.
- Prerequisites (0-20 credits, depending on background)
- Probability statistics (waived with a grade of C or better in an undergraduate or graduate equivalent course)
Choose one course:CSCI 309 Probability and Statistics 3 cr QM 210 Business Statistics I 3 cr - Database management (waived with a grade of C or better in an undergraduate or graduate equivalent course)
Choose one course:CSCI 380 Database Management Systems 3 cr MIS 328 Database Management Systems 3 cr - Computer systems/data communications (waived with a grade of C or better in an undergraduate or graduate equivalent course)
Choose one course:CSCI 370 Operating Systems 3 cr CSCI 477 Computer Communications and Networks 3 cr MIS 327 Business Data Communications 3 cr - Accounting (waived with a grade of C or better in an undergraduate or graduate equivalent course)
ACCT 201 Financial Accounting 3 cr - Programming Proficiency Requirements
For most knowledge areas, programming proficiency is a required prerequisite. Programming proficiency depends upon results of a placement exam. Two knowledge areas, IT management and cyber-security, can alternatively be entered via an IT administration course sequence. A programming proficiency exam is available to determine placement into required prerequisites or to waive the requirement.
The normal path to ensure programming proficiency includes the following courses:CSCI 241 Computer Science I 5 cr CSCI 242 Computer Science II 4 cr CSCI 241 Computer Science I 5 cr CSCI 274 UNIX Concepts and Tools 1 cr CSCI 275 UNIX Scripting 1 cr CSCI 435 UNIX System Administration 3 cr
- Probability statistics (waived with a grade of C or better in an undergraduate or graduate equivalent course)
- Required Program Core Courses (15 credits)
MBA 716 Project Management 2 cr CIS 721 Enterprise Systems 3 cr CIS 774 Programming Paradigms 3 cr CIS 779 Information Systems Security 3 cr CIS 795 Research Methods in CIS 3 cr CIS 798 CIS Seminar 1 cr - Knowledge Area Courses (15 credits)
MSCIS courses are divided into four knowledge areas: software development, information technology management, cyber-security, and data science.- Students must select a knowledge area and complete a minimum of nine credits within that area. A maximum of three credits of independent study related to a project or thesis may be used to satisfy this requirement (9 credits).
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Students must also complete six credits of electives to ensure 30 credits overall are completed for the degree. These credits may be chosen from any of the knowledge areas (6 credits).
A maximum of two 500-level courses and/or a maximum of three credits in independent study courses will be accepted for the graduate degree. Additionally, independent study courses will only be approved in extenuating circumstances in which other regular needed CIS graduate courses are not available in that particular academic term, and waiting for their offering would impact expected student graduation date. The classes must be approved by the MSCIS advisor.
A course cannot be used to satisfy the requirements in more than one category.
Knowledge Areas:- Software Development
CIS 523 Mobile Development in Android 3 cr CIS 524 Mobile Development in iOS 3 cr CIS 533 Programming Languages 3 cr CIS 540 Data Structures and Algorithm Design 3 cr CIS 570 Operating Systems 3 cr CIS 605 Artificial Intelligence 3 cr CIS 620 Computer Graphics 3 cr CIS 621 Computer Vision 3 cr CIS 626 Web Programming 3 cr CIS 640 Compiler Design and Implementation 3 cr CIS 674 Client/Server Development 3 cr CIS 675 Software Engineering – Design 3 cr CIS 676 Software Engineering – Project Management 3 cr CIS 677 Computer Communication and Networks 3 cr CIS 680 Advanced Databases 3 cr - Information Technology Management
CIS 624 Advanced Business Data Communications 3 cr CIS 625 System Analysis and Design 3 cr CIS 641 Advanced Project Management Tools and Techniques 3 cr CIS 642 Project Management Simulation 3 cr CIS 645 Web Security 3 cr CIS 676 Software Engineering – Project Management 3 cr CIS 678 Network Security 3 cr CIS 723 Management of Electronic Commerce 2 cr CIS 727 Business Process Redesign and Improvement 2 cr MBA 715 Advanced Operations Management 2 cr - Cyber-Security
CIS 624 Advanced Business Data Communications 3 cr OR CIS 677 Computer Communications and Networks 3 cr CIS 645 Web Security 3 cr CIS 678 Network Security 3 cr CIS 679 Security Risk 3 cr CIS 690 Special Topics in CIS (related to cyber-security) 3 cr CIS 790 Advanced Topics in CIS (related to cyber-security) 3 cr - Data Science
CIS 605 Artificial Intelligence 3 cr CIS 610 Introduction to Data Science 3 cr CIS 611 Programming for Data Science 3 cr CIS 612 Data Mining & Machine Learning 3 cr CIS 613 Big Data Analytics 3 cr CIS 690 Special Topics in CIS (related to Data Science) 3 cr CIS 790 Advanced Topics in CIS (related to Data Science) 3 cr MBA 761 Optimization Techniques 3 cr
- Software Development
- Students must select a knowledge area and complete a minimum of nine credits within that area. A maximum of three credits of independent study related to a project or thesis may be used to satisfy this requirement (9 credits).
Grade Point Average Requirement
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all course work required for the MSCIS degree to continue and complete in the degree program.
Disruption of Studies
Students are expected to complete MSCIS degree requirements in two to three years, depending on preparation. An MSCIS degree candidate who fails to complete the degree within five years after admission will be dropped from the program. A degree candidate who does not enroll in an MSCIS course within a period of 12 months must apply for readmission.
Transfer Students
Students may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate work taken at another accredited institution, subject to equivalence with MSCIS courses. Only courses with a grade of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better will be accepted. Transfer courses are not counted toward the UW-Parkside GPA requirement of 3.0 in MSCIS course work.
Courses in Computer and Information Systems (CIS)
The 700-level courses are pure graduate courses and are not cross-listed with any undergraduate courses. The 500- and 600-level courses are cross-listed with upper-level undergraduate 300- and 400-level courses, respectively.
523 |
Mobile Development in Android |
3 cr |
524 |
Mobile Development in iOS |
3 cr |
533 |
Programming Languages |
3 cr |
540 |
Data Structures and Algorithm Design |
3 cr |
570 |
Operating Systems |
3 cr |
605 |
Artificial Intelligence |
3 cr |
610 |
Introduction to Data Science |
3 cr |
611 |
Programming for Data Science |
3 cr |
612 |
Data Mining and Machine Learning |
3 cr |
613 |
Big Data Analytics |
3 cr |
620 |
Computer Graphics |
3 cr |
621 |
Computer Vision |
3 cr |
624 |
Advanced Business Data Communications |
3 cr |
625 |
System Analysis and Design |
3 cr |
626 |
Internet Programming |
3 cr |
640 |
Compiler Design and Implementation |
3 cr |
641 |
Advanced Project Management Tools and Techniques |
3 cr |
642 |
Project Management Simulation |
3 cr |
645 |
Web Security |
3 cr |
674 |
Client/Server Development |
3 cr |
675 |
Software Engineering-Design |
3 cr |
676 |
Software Engineering-Project Management |
3 cr |
677 |
Computer Communications and Networks |
3 cr |
678 |
Network Security |
3 cr |
679 |
Security Risk |
3 cr |
680 |
Advanced Databases |
3 cr |
681 |
Security Risk |
3 cr |
690 |
Special Topics in Computer and Information Systems |
3 cr |
721 |
Enterprise Systems |
3 cr |
723 |
Management of Electronic Commerce |
2 cr |
774 |
Programming Paradigms |
3 cr |
779 |
Information Systems Security |
3 cr |
790 |
Advanced Topics in CIS |
3 cr |
793 |
Internship in Computer Information Systems |
1-2 cr |
795 |
Research Methods in CIS |
3 cr |
796 |
CIS Project |
1 cr |
797 |
CIS Thesis |
1-4 cr |
798 |
CIS Seminar |
1 cr |
799 |
Independent Study |
1-4 cr |